Game apparatus and computer readable storage medium storing game program

ABSTRACT

Instead of using an operation inputted by a player, a series of operation data for continuously moving a player character for a predetermined time period of a game is previously stored as automatic operation data. Automatic control means moves the player character based on the automatic operation data. Furthermore, the automatic control means receives a play start operation indicating that the player starts to play the game while the automatic control means moves the player character. A movement of the player character controlled based on the automatic operation data is finished at a time when the play start operation is received, and the movement of the player character starts to be controlled based on an operation of the player.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/272,239filed Nov. 17, 2008, which claimes priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2008-235649, filed Sep. 12, 2008, both of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a game apparatus and a computerreadable storage medium storing a game program, and more particularly toa game apparatus that executes a game processing in which a playercharacter is moved based on operation data outputted from an operationthat is inputted to an input device controlled by a player and acomputer readable storage medium storing a game program.

2. Description of the Background Art

Conventionally, various types of video games executed by a video gameapparatus are available. The various types include a roll playing game,an action adventure game and an action roll playing game.

Mainly, in these types of games, a core story or scenario is previouslyset, and the game generally proceeds along such a story and scenariowhich is previously set. For some games, however, a content volume ofthe story or scenario is so large that a considerable time is requiredto clear the game. Furthermore, in order to increase interest in thegame, there may be a case where various riddles are provided orextremely difficult actions (highly-skilled operations of a player) arerequired in the scenario. However, in some cases, because these riddlesare too difficult to solve, a game progression is stalled mid-game andthe game cannot be cleared all the way through to the end. As a methodof solving such a problem, disclosed is a game control method in whichthe difficulty of a game is reduced by displaying a hint to advance thegame while the game is played (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2002-20351, for example). In this game control method, a hint message isdisplayed when a party (a group including a player character controlledby a player) does not include a character that can perform a specialaction in the vicinity of a location where the special action is to beperformed.

However, in the game control method disclosed in Japanese Laid-OpenPatent Publication No. 2002-20351, there are the following problems.Specifically, in the game control method disclosed in Japanese Laid-OpenPatent Publication No. 2002-20351, a hint is always displayed when acondition is satisfied. Therefore, for a player who wishes to solveriddles to conquer a game, hints to solve the riddles are alwaysdisplayed before the player attempts to deeply ponder how to solve theriddles, thereby resulting in decreased interest in the game.Furthermore, it is not interesting enough to merely display the hint asa message.

Also, in the aforementioned game in which a content volume is so largethat a considerable time is required to clear the game, a player canenjoy such a game having a large content volume if he or she has enoughtime to play the game all the way through to the end. However, for aplayer who cannot spare that much time to play the game, it isimpossible to enjoy the game all the way through to the end and thus heor she is likely to give up the game partway through.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gameapparatus and a computer readable storage medium storing a game programin which walkthrough information of a game is provided only when aplayer needs the information, and even if a player cannot spare enoughtime to play the game, he or she can proceed with and finally clear thegame.

The present invention has the following features to attain the objectmentioned above. Note that reference numerals and supplemental remarksare shown in parentheses below for assisting the reader in findingcorresponding components in the figures to facilitate the understandingof the present invention, but they are in no way intended to restrictthe scope of the invention.

A first aspect is directed to a game apparatus that executes a gameprocessing in which a player character is moved based on operation dataoutputted from an operation that is inputted to an input devicecontrolled by a player, and is displayed on a display device, and thegame apparatus comprises operation data storage means (12), automaticcontrol means (10), start reception means (10), and game processingmeans (10). The operation data storage means stores a series ofoperation data, as automatic operation data, for continuously moving theplayer character for a predetermined time period of a game, instead ofusing the operation inputted by the player. The automatic control meansreads the automatic operation data from the operation data storage meansso as to sequentially move the player character based on the readautomatic operation data for the predetermined time period, and displaysthe player character on the display device. The start reception meansreceives a play start operation indicating that the player starts toplay the game for a time period during which the player character ismoved by the automatic control means. The game processing means stopsthe automatic control means from moving the player character based onthe automatic operation data at a time when the play start operation isreceived, and controls, after the play start operation is received, amovement of the player character so as to be continued from a state ofthe player character at the time when the play start operation isreceived, based on the operation data outputted from the operation thatis inputted to the input device controlled by the player. Note that inthe case where a game proceeds along a predetermined game scenario suchas a roll playing game or an adventure game, “a predetermined timeperiod of a game” recited in the above claim corresponds to “a chapter”,for example, which is one of a plurality of portions into which onescenario is divided. Alternatively, in the case where a game isstage-clear type, “a predetermined time period of a game” corresponds to“a stage” as one of a plurality of stages provided in the game.

According to the first aspect, a scene including an operation difficultfor the player is presented (for the predetermined time period of thegame) such that the player character is moved based on the automaticoperation data, thereby making it possible to show the player a methodof conquering the scene. As a result, even if the player is unfamiliarwith the game, he or she can enjoy playing the game all the way throughto the end without getting stuck in a game progression. Furthermore,while the player character is moved based on the automatic operationdata, a movement control of the player character can be switched over toa movement control performed based on an operation that is inputted bythe player. Therefore, after the player obtains minimum walkthroughinformation, it becomes possible to cancel an automatic operation of theplayer character so as to switch over to the movement control performedby the player. As a result, it also becomes possible to leave the playerwith discretion to have the satisfaction of conquering the game on hisor her own.

In the second aspect based on the first aspect, the game apparatuscomprises speed change reception means (10) for receiving, for the timeperiod during which the player character is moved by the automaticcontrol means, an instruction to change a setting of a speed at whichthe movement of the player character is displayed. The automatic controlmeans displays the movement of the player character based on a speed setby the speed change reception means.

In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the automatic operationdata is composed of a plurality of pieces of operation data divided by aunit time equal to or shorter than a time period in which a display isupdated. The automatic control means executes a movement processing ofsequentially reading the plurality of pieces of operation data dividedby the unit time so as to move the player character based on each of theplurality of pieces of operation data, and displays, each time thedisplay is updated, the player character at a time when the display isupdated, on the display device, and changes the speed at which themovement of the player character is displayed by changing, in accordancewith the speed set by the speed change reception means, the number oftimes the movement processing is executed within the time period inwhich the display is updated.

In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect, the automatic controlmeans performs a fast-forward reproduction by increasing the number oftimes the movement processing is executed within the time period inwhich the display is updated.

In a fifth aspect based on the third aspect, the automatic control meansperforms a slow reproduction by decreasing the number of times themovement processing is executed within the time period in which thedisplay is updated.

According to the second to fifth aspects, it becomes possible to allowthe player to change the speed at which the movement of the playercharacter is displayed by the automatic control means. Thus, the playercan deliberately observe, by means of the slow reproduction, a contentof the movement of the player character performed by the automaticcontrol means, and also can view the movement of the player character byfast-forwarding a content which has already been viewed once, therebyincreasing the convenience for the player.

In a sixth aspect based on the first aspect, the input device includes abutton which can be pressed. The automatic operation data includesbutton data for indicating whether or not an operation of pressing thebutton is performed.

According to the sixth aspect, the movement of the player character canbe automatically controlled when a complex button operation is requiredto move the player character.

In a seventh aspect based on the first aspect, the input device includesan acceleration sensor. The automatic operation data includesacceleration data outputted from the acceleration sensor.

According to the seventh aspect, it becomes possible to control themovement of the player character based on the automatic operation datafor an operation using the acceleration data. Therefore, the automaticoperation is performed for an operation difficult for the player such asan operation of waving the input device itself, thereby making itpossible to prevent the player from getting stuck in the gameprogression.

In an eighth aspect based on the first aspect, the input device includesa gyro sensor. The automatic operation data includes angular rate dataoutputted from the gyro sensor.

According to the eighth aspect, it becomes possible to control themovement of the player character based on the automatic operation datafor an operation using the angular rate data. Therefore, the automaticoperation is performed for an operation difficult for the player such asan operation of waving the input device itself, thereby making itpossible to prevent the player from getting stuck in the gameprogression.

A ninth aspect based on the first aspect, the input device includesimaging means for imaging at least one imaging target. The automaticoperation data includes information regarding a position of the at leastone imaging target included in a picked up image represented by pickedup image data outputted from the input device including the imagingmeans.

According to the ninth aspect, it becomes possible to calculate adirection in which the input device is facing and a tilt of the inputdevice based on the information regarding the position of the imagingtarget. Thus, an operation using a direction or tilt of the input devicecan be automatically performed.

A tenth aspect is directed to a computer readable storage medium storinga game program causing a computer of a game apparatus to execute a gameprocessing in which a player character is moved based on operation dataoutputted from an operation that is inputted to an input devicecontrolled by a player, and is displayed on a display device, and thegame program causes the computer to function as automatic control means(S6, S7, S10), start reception means (S11), and game processing means(S12). The automatic control means reads, from operation data storagemeans for storing a series of operation data, as automatic operationdata, for continuously moving the player character for a predeterminedtime period of a game, instead of using the operation inputted by theplayer, the automatic operation data so as to sequentially move theplayer character based on the read automatic operation data for thepredetermined time period, and displays the player character on thedisplay device. The start reception means receives a play startoperation indicating that the player starts to play the game for a timeperiod during which the player character is moved by the automaticcontrol means. The game processing means stops the automatic controlmeans from moving the player character based on the automatic operationdata at a time when the play start operation is received, and controls,after the play start operation is received, a movement of the playercharacter so as to be continued from a state of the player character atthe time when the play start operation is received, based on theoperation data outputted from the operation that is inputted to theinput device controlled by the player.

In an eleventh aspect based on the tenth aspect, the game program causesthe computer to further function as speed change reception means (S2,S3) for receiving, for the time period during which the player characteris moved by the automatic control means, an instruction to change asetting of a speed at which the movement of the player character isdisplayed. The automatic control means displays the movement of theplayer character based on a speed set by the speed change receptionmeans.

In a twelfth aspect based on the eleventh aspect, the automaticoperation data is composed of a plurality of pieces of operation datadivided by a unit time equal to or shorter than a time period in which adisplay is updated. The automatic control means executes a movementprocessing of sequentially reading the plurality of pieces of operationdata divided by the unit time so as to move the player character basedon each of the plurality of pieces of operation data, and displays, eachtime the display is updated, the player character at a time when thedisplay is updated, on the display device, and changes the speed atwhich the movement of the player character is displayed by changing, inaccordance with the speed set by the speed change reception means, thenumber of times the movement processing is executed within the timeperiod in which the display is updated.

In a thirteenth aspect of the twelfth aspect, the automatic controlmeans performs a fast-forward reproduction by increasing the number oftimes the movement processing is executed within the time period inwhich the display is updated.

In a fourteenth aspect based on the twelfth aspect, the automaticcontrol means performs a slow reproduction by decreasing the number oftimes the movement processing is executed within the time period inwhich the display is updated.

In a fifteenth aspect based on the tenth aspect, the input deviceincludes a button which can be pressed. The automatic operation dataincludes button data for indicating whether or not an operation ofpressing the button is performed.

In a sixteenth aspect based on the tenth aspect, the input deviceincludes an acceleration sensor. The automatic operation data includesacceleration data outputted from the acceleration sensor.

In a seventeenth aspect based on the tenth aspect, the input deviceincludes a gyro sensor, and the automatic operation data includesangular rate data outputted from the gyro sensor.

In an eighteenth aspect based on the tenth aspect, the input deviceincludes imaging means for imaging at least one imaging target. Theautomatic operation data includes information regarding a position ofthe at least one imaging target included in a picked up imagerepresented by picked up image data outputted from the input deviceincluding the imaging means.

According to the game program recited in claims 10 to 18, the sameeffect as that of the game apparatus according to claims 1 to 9 can beobtained.

A nineteenth aspect is directed to a game apparatus that executes a gameprocessing in which a player character is moved based on operation dataoutputted by an operation that is inputted to an input device controlledby a player, and the game apparatus comprises operation data storagemeans (12), and control means (10). The operation data storage meansstores a series of operation data, as previously created automaticoperation data for continuously moving the player character, instead ofusing the operation inputted by the player. The control means switches acontrol of the player character between a first control mode where amovement of the player character is controlled based on the operationdata outputted from the operation that is inputted to the input devicecontrolled by the player and a second control mode where the automaticoperation data is read from the operation data storage means so as tocontrol the movement of the player character based on the automaticoperation data, in accordance with a predetermined switch instructionoperation inputted by the player.

According to the nineteenth aspect, while playing the game, the playercan use the automatic operation data to move the player character for ascene including an operation difficult for the player. As a result, evenif the player is unfamiliar with the game, he or she can enjoy playingthe game all the way through to the end.

In a twentieth aspect based on the nineteenth aspect, the game apparatusfurther comprises start reception means for receiving a play startoperation indicating that the player starts to play the game. Thecontrol means switches over the control of the player character, whenthe play start operation is received for a time period during which theplayer character is controlled in the second control mode, to the firstcontrol mode while maintaining a state of the player character at a timewhen the play start operation is received.

According to the twentieth aspect, while the player character is movedbased on the automatic operation data, the player can switch over themovement control of the player character to an operation of the playerat any desired timing.

According to the present invention, a scene including an operationdifficult for the player is presented to the player such that anoperation is automatically performed based on the automatic operationdata, thereby making it possible to show the player a method ofconquering the scene. Furthermore, while the player character is movedbased on the automatic operation data, the movement control of theplayer character can be switched over to an operation inputted by theplayer. Thus, even if the player is unfamiliar with the game, he or shecan enjoy playing the game all the way through to the end withoutgetting stuck in the game.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating a game system 1 according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of agame apparatus 5;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a controller 7 of FIG. 1 as viewed froma top rear side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the controller 7 of FIG. 3 as viewedfrom a bottom front side thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the controller 7 in a state where anupper casing thereof is removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the controller 7 in a state where alower casing thereof is removed;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the controller7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the controller 7 and a gyro sensor 9;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the controller7 and the gyro sensor 9;

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary game screen assumed in the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary game screen assumed in the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary game screen assumed in the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary game screen assumed in the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a view describing an outline of a process executed in thepresent embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary game screen assumed in the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary game screen assumed in the present invention;

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary game screen assumed in the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of an external mainmemory 12 included in a game apparatus 3;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating exemplary Chapter-m data shown in FIG.16;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of buttondata 131;

FIG. 21 is a view illustrating a state where the gyro sensor unit 9 andan expansion controller are connected to the controller 7; and

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a game processingaccording to the present embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(Overall Configuration of Game System)

With reference to FIG. 1, a game system 1 including a game apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating the game system 1. Hereinafter,the game apparatus and a game program of the present invention will bedescribed by using a stationary game apparatus as an example. In FIG. 1,the game system 1 includes a television receiver (hereinafter simplyreferred to as “television”) 2, a game apparatus 3, an optical disc 4, acontroller 7, and a marker section 8. The present system causes the gameapparatus 3 to execute game processing in accordance with a gameoperation using the controller 7.

To the game apparatus 3, the optical disc 4, which is an exemplaryinformation storage medium exchangeably used for the game apparatus 3,is detachably inserted. On the optical disc 4, a game program to beexecuted by the game apparatus 3 is stored. An insertion slot for theoptical disc 4 is provided at the front face of the game apparatus 3.The game apparatus 3 executes game processing by reading and executingthe game program stored on the optical disc 4 inserted through theinsertion slot.

To the game apparatus 3, the television 2, which is an exemplary displayapparatus, is connected via a connection cord. The television 2 displaysa game image obtained as a result of the game processing executed by thegame apparatus 3. Further, on the periphery of a screen of thetelevision 2 (an upper side of the screen in FIG. 1), the marker section8 is provided. The marker section 8 has two markers 8R and 8L located atboth ends thereof. The marker 8R (as well as the marker 8L) isspecifically composed of one or more infrared LEDs, and outputs infraredlight forward from the television 2. The marker section 8 is connectedto the game apparatus 3, and the game apparatus 3 is capable ofcontrolling lighting of respective red infrared LEDs contained in themarker section 8.

The controller 7 is an input device for providing the game apparatus 3with operation data representing a content of an operation applied tothe controller 7. The controller 7 and the game apparatus 3 areconnected to each other by wireless communication. In the presentembodiment, a technique of Bluetooth (registered trademark), forexample, is used for the wireless communication between the controller 7and the game apparatus 3. In another embodiment, the controller 7 andthe game apparatus 3 may be connected to each other via a fixed line.

(Internal Configuration of Game Apparatus 3)

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an internal configuration of the gameapparatus 3 will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagramillustrating a configuration of the game apparatus 3. The game apparatus3 includes a CPU 10, a system LSI 11, an external main memory 12, aROM/RTC 13, a disc drive 14, an AV-IC 15, and the like.

The CPU 10 executes the game processing by causing the game programstored on the optical disc 4 to be executed, and functions as a gameprocessor. The CPU 10 is connected to the system LSI 11. In addition tothe CPU 10, the external main memory 12, the ROM/RTC 13, the disc drive14, and the AV-IC 15 are connected to the system LSI 11. The system LSI11 performs processing such as control of data transmission betweenrespective component parts connected thereto, generation of an image tobe displayed, and obtainment of data from an external apparatus. Aninternal configuration of the system LSI will be described later. Theexternal main memory 12, which is of a volatile type, stores programssuch as a game program read from the optical disc and the flash memory17, and other various data, and is used as a work area and buffer spacefor the CPU 10. The ROM/RTC 13 includes a ROM (so-called a boot ROM)incorporating a program booting the game apparatus 3, and a clockcircuit for counting time (RTC: Real Time Clock). The disc drive 14reads, from the optical disc 4, the program data, texture data and thelike, and writes the read data into an internal main memory 11 edescribed later, or the external main memory 12.

Further, provided in the system LSI 11 are an input/output processor 11a, a GPU (Graphics Processor Unit) 11 b, a DSP (Digital SignalProcessor) 11 c, a VRAM 11 d, and the internal main memory 11 e. Thesecomponent parts 11 a to 11 e are, though not shown in diagrams,connected to one another via an internal bus.

The GPU 11 b forms a portion of drawing means, and generates an image inaccordance with a graphics command (draw command) from the CPU 10. Morespecifically, the GPU 11 b generates game image data by performing, inaccordance with the graphics command, calculation processing necessaryto display 3D graphics, for example, coordinate conversion from 3Dcoordinates to 2D coordinates, which corresponds to processing beforerendering, and final rendering processing such as texture pasting. Here,the CPU 10 provides the GPU 11 b with not only the graphics command, butalso an image generation program necessary to generate the game imagedata. The VRAM 11 d stores data (such as polygon data and the texturedata) necessary for the GPU 11 b to execute the graphics command. Whenan image is generated, the GPU 11 b generates the image data by usingthe data stored in the VRAM 11 d.

The DSP 11 c functions as an audio processor, and generates audio databy using sound data and sound waveform (tone quality) data stored in theinternal main memory 11 e and the external main memory 12. Similarly tothe external main memory 12, the internal main memory 11 e storesprograms and various data, and is used as a work area and buffer spacefor the CPU 10.

The image data and the audio data generated as above described, is readby the AV-IC 15. The AV-IC 15 outputs the read image data to thetelevision 2 via an AV connector 16, and also outputs the read audiodata to a speaker 2 a embedded in the television 2. Accordingly, theimage is displayed on the television 2, and the sound is outputted fromthe speaker 2 a.

The input/output processor (I/O processor) 11 a executes datatransmission with component parts connected thereto and data downloadingfrom an external apparatus. The I/O processor 11 a is connected to theflash memory 17, a wireless communication module 18, a wirelesscontroller module 19, an extension connector 20, and an external memorycard connector 21. To the wireless communication module 18, an antenna22 is connected, and to the wireless controller module 19, an antenna 23is connected.

The I/O processor 11 a is connected to a network via the wirelesscommunication module 18 and the antenna 22 and is capable ofcommunicating with other game apparatuses or various servers connectedto the network. The I/O processor 11 a accesses the flash memory 17 atregular intervals so as to detect data, if any, necessary to transmit tothe network. If the data is detected, the detected data is transmittedto the network via the wireless communication module 18 and the antenna22. Further, the I/O processor 11 a receives data transmitted from theother game apparatuses or downloaded from a download server via thenetwork, the antenna 22 or the wireless communication module 18, andstores the received data in the flash memory 17. The CPU 10 executes thegame program so as to read the data stored in the flash memory 17 andcauses the game program to use the read data. In the flash memory 17,not only the data transmitted between the game apparatus 3 and the othergame apparatuses or the various servers, but also save data of a game(result data or intermediate step data of the game) played by using thegame apparatus 3 may be stored.

Further, the I/O processor 11 a receives the operation data transmittedfrom the controller 22 via the antenna 23 and the wired controllermodule 19, and (temporarily) stores the operation data in the internalmain memory 11 e or in a buffer space of the external main memory 12.

Further, to the I/O processor 11 a, the extension connector 20 and theexternal memory card connector 21 are connected. The extension connector20 is a connector for an interface such as a USB and a SCSI, and iscapable of performing communication with the network, instead of thewireless communication module 18, by connecting thereto a medium such asan external storage, a peripheral device such as another controller, ora wired communication connector. The external memory card connector 21is a connector for connecting the external storage medium such as thememory card. For example, the I/O processor 11 a accesses the externalstorage medium via the extension connector 20 or the external memorycard connector 21, and then saves data or reads data.

Provided to the game apparatus 3 are a power button 24, a reset button25, and an eject button 26. The power button 24 and the reset button 25are connected to the system LSI 11. When the power button 24 is turnedon, the power is supplied to the respective components of the gameapparatus 3 via an AC adapter which is not shown. Further, when thepower button 24 is pressed again during the state of the power being on,the state shifts to a low-power standby mode. The power is supplied tothe game apparatus 3 even in such state, and thus the game apparatus 3is at all times capable of being connected to the network such as theInternet. In the case of turning off the power after the power is turnedon, it is possible to turn off the power by holding down the powerbutton 24 for a predetermined time period or longer. When the resetbutton 25 is pressed, the system LSI 11 reactivates a start-up programof the game apparatus 3. The eject button 26 is connected to the discdrive 14. When the eject button 26 is pressed, the optical disc 4 isejected from the disc drive 14.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the controller 7 will be described.FIG.3 is a perspective view of a controller 7 as viewed from a top rearside thereof. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the controller 7 as viewedfrom a bottom front side thereof.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the controller 7 includes a housing 71 and anoperation section 72 composed of a plurality of operation buttonsprovided on the surface of the housing 71. The housing 71 of the presentembodiment has a substantially parallelepiped shape extending in alongitudinal direction from front to rear, and an overall size thereofis small enough to be held by one hand of an adult or even a child. Thehousing 71 is formed by, for example, plastic molding.

At a front center portion of a top surface of the housing 71, a crosskey 72 a is provided. The cross key 72 a is a cross-shapedfour-direction push switch, and the operation portions thereof arerespectively located on cross-shaped projecting portions arranged atintervals of 90 degrees such that the operation portions correspond tofour directions (front, rear, right and left). A player selects one ofthe front, rear, right and left directions by pressing one of theoperation portions of the cross key 72 a. Through an operation of thecross key 72 a, the player can, for example, indicate a direction inwhich a player character or the like appearing in a virtual game worldis to move, or select an instruction from a plurality of choices.

The cross key 72 a is an operation section for outputting an operationsignal in accordance with the above-described direction input operationperformed by the player, and such an operation section may be providedin another form. For example, the operation section may be such thatfour push switches are arranged in the cross directions and an operationsignal is outputted by the player's pressing one of the four pushswitches. Further, in addition to the four push switches, a centerswitch may be provided at a center of the cross directions so as toprovide an operation section compounded from four push switches and thecenter switch. Alternatively, the cross key 72 a may be replaced with anoperation section which includes an inclinable stick (so called ajoystick) projecting from the top surface of the housing 71 and whichoutputs the operation signal in accordance with an inclining directionof the stick. Still alternatively, the cross key 72 a may be replacedwith an operation section which includes a disc-shaped memberhorizontally slidable and which outputs an operation signal inaccordance with a sliding direction of the disc-shaped member. Stillalternatively, the cross key 72 a may be replaced with a touchpad.

Behind the cross key 72 a on the top surface of the housing 71, aplurality of operation buttons 72 b to 72 g are provided. The operationbuttons 72 b to 72 g are each an operation section for, when the playerpresses a head thereof, outputting an operation signal allocatedthereto. For example, functions as a NO. 1 button, a NO. 2 button, an Abutton and the like are assigned to the operation buttons 72 b to 72 d.Further, functions as a minus button, a home button, a plus button andthe like are assigned to the operation buttons 72 e to 72 g. Variousoperational functions are assigned to the operation buttons 72 a to 72 gin accordance with the game program to be executed by the game apparatus3. In an exemplary arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the operation buttons 72b to 72 d are arranged in a line at the center in a front-rear directionon the top surface of the housing 71. The operation buttons 72 e to 72 gare arranged in a line on the top surface of the housing 71 in aleft-right direction between the operation buttons 72 b and 72 d. Theoperation button 72 f has a top surface thereof buried in the topsurface of the housing 71, so as not to be inadvertently pressed by theplayer.

In front of the cross key 72 a on the top surface of the housing 71, anoperation button 72 h is provided. The operation button 72 h is a powerswitch for turning on and off the power to the game apparatus 3 byremote control. The operation button 72 h also has a top surface thereofburied in the top surface of the housing 71, so as not to beinadvertently pressed by the player.

Behind the operation button 72 c on the top surface of the housing 71, aplurality of LEDs 702 are provided. A controller type (number) isassigned to the controller 7 such that the controller 7 isdistinguishable from the other controllers 7. Here, the LEDs 702 areused for, e.g., informing the player of the controller type which iscurrently set for the controller 7. Specifically, when the controller 7transmits transmission data to the game apparatus 3, one of theplurality of LEDs 702 which corresponds to the controller type of thecontroller 7 is lit up.

On the top surface of the housing 71, speaker holes for emitting a soundfrom a speaker (a speaker 706 of FIG. 5), which is to be describedlater, to outside are formed between the operation button 72 b and theoperation buttons 72 e to 72 g.

On a bottom surface of the housing 71, a recessed portion is formed. Asdescribed later in detail, the recessed portion is formed in a positionin which an index finger or middle finger of the player is located whenthe player holds the controller 7 with one hand and points a frontportion thereof to the markers 8L and 8R. On a slope surface of therecessed portion, an operation button 72 i is provided. The operationbutton 72 i is an operation section acting as, for example, a B button.

On a front side surface of the housing 71, an image pickup element 743constituting a portion of an imaging information calculation section 74is provided. The imaging information calculation section 74 is a systemfor analyzing image data picked up by the controller 7, therebyidentifying an area having a high brightness in the image and detectinga position of a gravity center, a size and the like of the area. Theimaging information calculation section 74 has, for example, a maximumsampling period of about 200 frames/sec, and therefore is capable oftracing and analyzing even a relatively fast motion of the controller 7.A configuration of the imaging information calculation section 74 willbe described later in detail. On a rear side surface of the housing 71,a connector 73 is provided. The connector 73 is, for example, an edgeconnector, and is used for engaging and connecting the controller 7 witha connection cable.

For the sake of a specific description, a coordinate system set for thecontroller 7 will be defined. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an x-axis, ay-axis, and a z-axis running at right angles to one another are definedwith respect to the controller 7. Specifically, the z-axis represents alongitudinal direction of the housing 71, which corresponds to thefront-rear direction of the controller 7, and a direction on the side ofthe front side surface (a portion on which the imaging informationcalculation section 74 is provided) of the controller 7 is set as az-axis positive direction. Further, the y-axis represents an up-downdirection of the controller 7, and a direction on the side of the topsurface of the housing 71 is set as a y-axis positive direction. Stillfurther, the x-axis represents the left-right direction of thecontroller 7, and a direction on the left side (a side which is notshown in FIG. 3, but shown in FIG. 4) of the housing 71 is set as anx-axis positive direction.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, an internal structure of the controller7 will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the controller 7 ina state where an upper casing (a portion of the housing 71) of thecontroller 7 is removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the controller7 in a state where a lower casing (a portion of the housing 71) of thecontroller 7 is removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a substrate 700as viewed from a reverse side of the substrate 700 shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the substrate 700 is fixed inside the housing 71.Provided, on a top main surface of the substrate 700, are the operationbuttons 72 a to 72 h, an acceleration sensor 701, the LEDs 702, anantenna 754 and the like. These elements are connected to amicrocomputer 751 or the like (see FIGS. 6 and 7) by lines (not shown)formed on the substrate 700 or the like. A microcomputer 751 functionsas exemplary button data generation means of the present invention, andgenerates operation button data corresponding to the type of theoperation button 72 a or the like. This function is a technique in thepublic domain, and realized by the microcomputer 751 detectingconnection/disconnection of lines which are caused by a switch mechanismsuch as a tactile switch located at a lower side of a key top. Morespecifically, when the operation button, for example, is pressed, thelines are connected, and consequently energized. The microcomputer 751detects the lines which are energized, and generates a signalcorresponding to the type of the operation button.

The wireless module 753 (see FIG. 7) and antenna 754, which are notshown, allow the controller 7 to act as a wireless controller. A quartzoscillator, which is not shown, is provided in an inside of the housing71, and generates a reference clock of the microcomputer 751 to bedescribed later. On the top main surface of the substrate 700, a speaker706 and an amplifier 708 are provided. The acceleration sensor 701 isprovide at the left side of the operation button 72 d on the substrate700 (that is, at a peripheral portion, instead of a center portion, onthe substrate 700). Accordingly, the acceleration sensor 701 is capableof detecting, from a rotation centering on the longitudinal direction ofthe controller 7, acceleration generated by a centrifugal force elementas well as directional variation in gravity acceleration. Accordingly,the game apparatus 3 and the like are capable of detecting, from thedetected acceleration data, the rotation of the controller 7 with a highsensitivity in accordance with a predetermined calculation.

As shown in FIG. 6, at a front edge of a bottom main surface of thesubstrate 700, the image information calculation section 74 is provided.The image information calculation section 74 includes an infrared filter741, a lens 742, the image pickup element 743 and an image processingcircuit 744 which are located in this order from the front side of thecontroller 7. These elements are attached to the bottom main surface ofthe substrate 700. At a rear edge of the bottom main surface of thesubstrate 700, the connector 73 is attached. Further, on the bottom mainsurface of the substrate 700, a sound IC 707 and the microcomputer 751are provided. The sound IC 707 is connected to the microcomputer 751 andthe amplifier 708 by lines formed on the substrate 700 and the like, andoutputs an audio signal to the speaker 706 via the amplifier 708 inaccordance with the sound data transmitted from the game apparatus 3.

On the bottom main surface of the substrate 700, a vibrator 704 isattached. The vibrator 704 may be, for example, a vibration motor or asolenoid. The vibrator 704 is connected to the microcomputer 751 by thelines formed on the substrate 700, and is turned on/off in accordancewith vibration data transmitted from the game apparatus 3. Thecontroller 7 is vibrated when the vibrator 704 is turned on, andvibration is conveyed to the player holding the controller 7. Thus, aso-called vibration-feedback game is realized. The vibrator 704 islocated at a relatively front side of the housing 71, and thus thehousing 71 vibrates to a large extent while the player is holding thehousing 71, whereby the player feels vibration sensitively.

With reference to FIG. 7, an internal configuration of the controller 7will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating aconfiguration of the controller 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the controller 7 includes therein a communicationsection 75 as well as the above-described operation section 72, theimaging information calculation section 74, the acceleration sensor 701,the vibrator 704, the speaker 706, the sound IC 707, and the amplifier708.

The image information calculation section 74 includes the infraredfilter 741, the lens 742, the image pickup element 743 and the imageprocessing circuit 744. The infrared filter 741 allows only an infraredradiation in the light incident on the front side of the controller 7 topass therethrough. Note that the markers 8L and 8R, located on theperiphery of the display screen of the television 2, are infrared LEDswhich output infrared light forward from the television 2. Therefore, byproviding the infrared filter 741, images of the respective markers 8Land 8R can be more accurately picked up. The lens 742 converges theinfrared radiation which has passed through the infrared filter 741, andoutputs the infrared radiation to the image pickup element 743. Theimage pickup element 743 is a solid-state image pickup element such as aCMOS sensor or a CCD, and picks up an image of the infrared radiationcollected by the lens 742. In other words, the image pickup element 743picks up the image of only the infrared radiation, which has passedthrough the infrared filter 741, and generates image data. The imagedata generated by the image pickup element 743 is processed by the imageprocessing circuit 744. Specifically, the image processing circuit 744processes the image data obtained by the image pickup element 743 so asto detect a high brightness portion therefrom, and outputs, to thecommunication section 75, processing result data representing a resultof detecting position coordinates and an area of the high brightnessportion. Note that the image information calculation section 74 issecured to the housing 71 of the controller 7, and an imaging directionof the controller 7 can be changed by changing an orientation of thehousing 71 itself. Based on the processing result data outputted fromthe image information calculation section 74, a signal generated inaccordance with the position and motion of the controller 7 can beobtained.

It is preferable that the controller 7 includes triaxial (x, y, andz-axes) acceleration sensor 701. The triaxial acceleration sensor 701detects linear acceleration in three directions, i.e., an up-downdirection, a left-right direction, and a front-rear direction. Further,in another embodiment, a biaxial accelerometer may be used which detectsthe linear acceleration in the up-down direction and the left-rightdirection (or any other paired direction) depending on a type of acontrol signal to be used for game processing. For example, the triaxialor biaxial acceleration sensor 701 may be of a type available fromAnalog Devices, Inc. or STMicroelectronics N.V. The acceleration sensor701 may be of an electrostatic capacitance (capacitance-coupling) typewhich is based on silicon micro-machined MEMS (Micro Electro MechanicalSystems) technology. Any other suitable accelerometer technology (e.g.,piezoelectric type or piezoresistance type) now existing or to bedeveloped later maybe used to provide the triaxial or biaxialacceleration sensor 701.

As one skilled in the art understands, accelerometers, as used in theacceleration sensor 701, are only capable of detecting accelerationalong a straight line (linear acceleration) corresponding to each axisof the acceleration sensor. In other words, the direct output of theacceleration sensor 701 is limited to signals indicative of linearacceleration (static or dynamic) along the respective two or three axesthereof. As a result, the acceleration sensor 701 cannot directly detectmotion along a non-linear (e.g. arcuate) path, rotation, rotationalmotion, angular displacement, tilt, position, posture or any otherphysical characteristic.

However, through processing by a computer such as a processor of a gameapparatus (e.g., a CPU 10) or a processor of a controller (e.g., themicrocomputer 751), in accordance with the acceleration signalsoutputted from the acceleration sensor 701, additional informationrelating to the controller 7 can be inferred or calculated (determined),as one skilled in the art will readily understand from the descriptionherein. For example, in the case where processing is executed by acomputer based on the assumption that a controller accommodating theacceleration sensor is in a static state (that is, in the case where itis only gravitational acceleration that is to be detected by theacceleration sensor), it is possible to understand whether or not, or towhat extent, the controller is tilted toward the gravity direction inaccordance with the detected acceleration as long as the controller isactually in a static state. Specifically, if a state where an axis to bedetected by the acceleration sensor is facing a vertically downwarddirection is set as a standard state, it is possible to find out whetheror not the axis to be detected is tilted depending on whether or not 1G(gravitational acceleration) is exerted, and also possible to find outthe degree of tilt of the axis to be detected. Further, in the case of amulti-axial acceleration sensor, it is possible to find out, in detail,the degree of tilt of respective axes with respect to the gravitydirection by processing the acceleration signals along the respectiveaxes. In this case, the processor may calculate data of a tilt angle ofthe controller 7 in accordance with the output from the accelerationsensor 701, or alternatively infer an approximate tilt angle inaccordance with the output from the acceleration sensor 701 withoutcalculating data of the tilt angle. By using the acceleration sensor 701and the processor in combination with each other in a manner as abovedescribed, it is possible to identify the tilt, an posture, and theposition of the controller 7. On the other hand, in the case where it isassumed that the acceleration sensor is in a dynamic state, accelerationcorresponding to the motion of the acceleration sensor can be detected,in addition to the gravitational acceleration element. Accordingly, aslong as the gravitational acceleration element is removed through givenprocessing, it is possible to calculate a motion direction and the likeof the controller 7. Specifically, in the case where the controller 7including the acceleration sensor 701 is dynamically accelerated andmoved by a hand of a user, various motions and/or positions of thecontroller 7 can be calculated by processing the acceleration signalgenerated by the acceleration sensor 701. Even in the case where it isassumed that the acceleration sensor is in the dynamic state, it ispossible to calculate a tilt toward the gravity direction as long as theacceleration corresponding to the motion of the acceleration sensor isremoved through given processing. In another embodiment, theacceleration sensor 701 may include a built-in type signal processingapparatus or a dedicated processing apparatus of any other type so as todesirably process the acceleration signal to be outputted from anembedded accelerometer before outputted to the microcomputer 751. Forexample, in the case where the acceleration sensor is designed to detectstatic acceleration (e.g., gravitational acceleration), the built-intype or the dedicated processing apparatus may convert the detectedacceleration signal into a tilt angle (or any other desirable parameter)corresponding thereto.

The communication section 75 includes the microcomputer 751, a memory752, the wireless module 753 and the antenna 754. The microcomputer 751controls the wireless module 753 for wirelessly transmitting thetransmission data while using the memory 752 as a storage area at thetime of processing. Further, the microcomputer 751 controls operation ofthe sound IC 707 and the vibrator 704 in accordance with the datareceived by the wireless module 753 from the game apparatus 3 via theantenna 754. The sound IC 707 processes the sound data and the liketransmitted from the game apparatus 3 via the communication section 75.Further, the microcomputer 751 actuates the vibrator 704 in accordancewith vibration data (e.g., a signal for turning the vibrator 704 “ON” or“OFF”) and the like which is transmitted from the game apparatus 3 viathe communication section 75.

Data from the controller 7 such as an operation signal (key data) fromthe operation section 72, acceleration signals (acceleration data inx-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions, hereinafter simply referred to as“acceleration data”) from the acceleration sensor 701, and theprocessing result data from the imaging information calculation section74 are outputted to the microcomputer 751. The microcomputer 751temporarily stores inputted data (the key data, the acceleration dataand the processing result data) in the memory 752 as the transmissiondata which is to be transmitted to the wireless controller module 19.Wireless transmission from the communication section 75 to the wirelesscontroller module 19 is performed at predetermined time intervals.Because the game processing is generally executed at a cycle of 1/60sec, the wireless transmission needs to be performed at a cycle of ashorter time period. Specifically, the game processing is executed at acycle of 16.7 ms ( 1/60 sec), and a transmission interval of thecommunication section 75 which is composed of the Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) is 5 ms, for example. At a timing of performing a wirelesstransmission to the wireless controller module 19, the microcomputer 751outputs, to the wireless module 753, the transmission data stored in thememory 752 as a series of pieces of operation information. The wirelessmodule 753 uses, for example, the Bluetooth (registered trademark)technology so as to modulate the series of pieces of operationinformation by using a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency andto emit the modulated radio signal from the antenna 754. Thus, the keydata from the operation section 72, the acceleration data from theacceleration sensor 701, and the processing result data from the imaginginformation calculation section 74 which are all provided in thecontroller 7 are modulated by the wireless module 753 into the radiosignal, and then transmitted from the controller 7. The wirelesscontroller module 19 of the game apparatus 3 receives the radio signal,and the game apparatus 3 demodulates or decodes the radio signal toobtain the series of pieces of operation information (the key data, theacceleration data and the processing result data). In accordance withthe series of pieces of obtained operation information and the gameprogram, the CPU 10 of the game apparatus 3 executes the gameprocessing. In the case where the communication section 75 is configuredby using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) technology, thecommunication section 75 may have a function of receiving transmissiondata which is wirelessly transmitted from the other devices.

In the present embodiment, as a motion sensor for detecting the motionof the controller 7, an expansion unit including a gyro sensor(hereinafter referred to as “gyro sensor unit”) is detachable from thecontroller 7. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the controller 7 and agyro sensor unit 9. The gyro sensor unit 9 has a gyro sensor fordetecting angular rates about three axes (gyro sensors 55 and 56 shownin FIG. 9). The gyro sensor unit 9 is detachably inserted to theconnector 73 of the controller 7. A plug connectable to the connector 73(a plug 53 shown in FIG. 9) is provided at a front end of the gyrosensor unit 9 (an end on the Z-axis positive direction side shown inFIG. 8). Furthermore, hooks (not shown) are provided at both ends of theplug 53. In a state where the gyro sensor unit 9 is inserted to thecontroller 7, the plug 53 is connected to the connector 73 and the hooksare locked into locking holes 73 a of the controller 7. Thus, thecontroller 7 is firmly secured to the gyro sensor unit 9. Furthermore, abutton 51 is provided on a side face (a face perpendicular to the X-axisdirection shown in FIG. 8) of the gyro sensor unit 9. The button 51 isformed such that when the button 51 is pressed, a state where the hooksare locked into the locking holes 73 is released. Therefore, bydisconnecting the plug 53 from the connector 73 while the button 51 ispressed, the gyro sensor unit 9 is detached from the controller 7. Inanother embodiment, the controller 7 may include a gyro sensor.

At the rear end of the gyro sensor unit 9, provided is a connectorhaving the same shape as that of the connector 73. Therefore, any otherapparatuses insertable to (the connector 73 of) the controller 7 arealso insertable to the connector of the gyro sensor unit 9. Note that inFIG. 8, a cover 52 is detachably attached to the connector.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the controller7 and the gyro sensor unit 9 in a state where the gyro sensor unit 9 isinserted to the controller 7. The gyro sensor unit 9 includes the plug53, a microcomputer 54, a biaxial gyro sensor 55, and a uniaxial gyrosensor 56. As described above, the gyro sensor unit 9 detects angularrates about three axes (X, Y and Z-axes in the present embodiment) andtransmits data representing the detected angular rates (angular ratedata) to the controller 7.

The biaxial gyro sensor 55 detects the angular rates (per unit time)about the X-axis and the Y-axis. Also, the uniaxial gyro sensor 56detects the angular rate (per unit time) about the X-axis. Note that inthe present application, rotation directions about the respective X, Yand Z-axes with respect to the imaging direction of the controller 7(the X-axis positive direction) are referred to as “roll direction”,“pitch direction” and “yaw direction”. That is, the biaxial gyro sensor55 detects the angular rates in the roll direction (the rotationdirection about the X-axis) and the pitch direction (the rotationdirection about the Y-axis), and the uniaxial gyro sensor 56 detects theangular rate in the yaw direction (the rotation direction about theZ-axis).

In the present embodiment, the biaxial gyro sensor 55 and the uniaxialgyro sensor 56 are used to detect the angular rates about the threeaxes. In another embodiment, however, any number or any combination ofgyro sensors may be used as long as the angular rates about the threeaxes are detected.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the three axes about which thegyro sensors 55 and 56 detect the angular rates are set so as tocorrespond, respectively, to the three axes along which the accelerationsensor 37 detects the acceleration (the X, Y and Z-axes). In anotherembodiment, however, the three axes about which the gyro sensors 55 and56 detect the angular rates may not correspond, respectively, to thethree axes along which the acceleration sensor 37 detects theacceleration.

The data representing the angular rates detected by the gyro sensors 55and 56 is outputted to the microcomputer 54. Therefore, datarepresenting the angular rates about the three axes (X, Y and Z-axes) isinputted to the microcomputer 54. The microcomputer 54 transmits thedata representing the angular rates about the three axes to thecontroller 7 via the plug 53 as the angular rate data. Note that thetransmission from the microcomputer 54 to the controller 7 is performedat a cycle of a predetermined time period. However, a game processing isgenerally executed at a cycle of 1/60 sec (on a frame-by-frame basis).Therefore, the transmission from the microcomputer 54 to the controller7 is preferably performed at a cycle of a shorter time period.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 10 to 16, an outline of the gameprocessing executed in the present embodiment will be described. A gameassumed in the present embodiment is an action adventure game. In thisgame, a player operates a player character in a virtual game space(which may be a two-dimensional virtual space or a three-dimensionalvirtual space) so as to proceed with a game along a predeterminedscenario which is previously set by a game developer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a title menu of the game assumed inthe present embodiment. In the title menu of FIG. 10, two items, “playwith scenario” and “play with chapter” are displayed. “Play withscenario” is an item for playing a game in a similar manner as that of ageneral game. “Play with chapter” is an item for playing a game on a“chapter-by-chapter” basis, dividing a scenario of the game into severalchapters.

A process to be executed when “play with scenario” is selected from theaforementioned title menu will be described. When the player selects“play with scenario” from the title menu, a screen having two items,“start” and “road” shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. When the playerselects “start” on this screen, he or she can start the game from thebeginning of the scenario thereof. On the other hand, when the playerselects “road”, he or she can play the game from a point continued fromthe previous play (i.e., from a midpoint of the scenario) by readingsave data. Thereafter, in both cases, the game processing is executedbased on an operation of the player using the controller 7.Specifically, based on such operation information transmitted from thecontroller 7, a process in which the player character performs variousactions in a virtual space is executed. FIG. 12 shows an exemplary gamescreen to be displayed when the player selects “play with scenario”. InFIG. 12, a state of the virtual game space existing a player character101 is displayed by using an entirety of the screen.

Next, an outline of a process to be executed when the player selects“play with chapter” from the title menu shown in FIG. 10 will bedescribed. FIG. 13 shows an exemplary screen to be displayed when “playwith chapter” is selected. In FIG. 13, a reduced map of a virtual world,where the game is played, is displayed. The virtual world of the gameassumed in the present embodiment is divided into a plurality of areas.In FIG. 13, the virtual world is divided into five areas, and thescenario of the game assumed in the present embodiment proceeds by theplayer character sequentially visiting these five areas counterclockwisefrom the upper right. Furthermore, a scenario corresponding to each ofthe areas is composed of a plurality of chapters.

In FIG. 13, when the player selects an area displayed at the upper left(hereinafter referred to as “desert area”), the screen changesaccordingly so as to display an enlarged desert area, as shown in FIG.14. In FIG. 14, a plurality of chapters constituting the desert area aredisplayed. In an example of FIG. 14, the desert area is composed of fourchapters. Specifically, the chapters are represented by circles, and thecircles are connected to each other with a single line so as to show aroute through which the player conquers the desert area (how thescenario proceeds to) when “play with scenario” is selected. The playercan select a desired chapter from among the four chapters (when theplayer places a cursor on each of the circles, a chapter namecorresponding to each of the circles is displayed.

Furthermore, in FIG. 14, a button 103 indicating “view digest” isdisplayed at the lower right of the screen. When the player presses thebutton 103, a digest movie for introducing a digest of a scenariocontent of the desert area is displayed. In the digest movie, a movingimage file which is previously created (a moving image file in an MPEGformat, for example) is reproduced.

It is assumed that the player selects a second chapter from the right(hereinafter referred to as a “chapter 2”) on the screen of FIG. 14. Inthis case, a chapter menu shown in FIG. 15 is displayed. In FIG. 15, twobuttons, i.e., a “play this chapter” button 106 and a “view walkthroughmovie” button 107, are displayed together with an illustration 105representing a content of the chapter 2. When the player presses the“play this chapter” button 106 on the screen of FIG. 15, he or she canplay the game from the beginning of the chapter 2. In this case, theplayer character 101 performs an action based on an operation of theplayer.

On the other hand, when the player presses the “view walkthrough movie”button 107 on the screen of FIG. 15, a game screen changes to a screenas shown in FIG. 16, and a walkthrough movie, which is a moving imagerepresenting a method of conquering the chapter 2, is displayed. Thepresent embodiment illustrates an example where a moving imagerepresenting a method of defeating a “sandworm” which is a bosscharacter of the chapter 2 is displayed (it is assumed that a battleagainst the boss character is a scene where the player is likely to getstuck in the game). Specifically, a moving image representing a statewhere the player fights against (and finally beats) the “sandworm” isdisplayed in a walkthrough movie display area 110. This walkthroughmovie is a moving image to be displayed by the CPU 10 operating theplayer character 101 based on the operation information which ispreviously provided (hereinafter referred to as “automatic operationdata). In other words, such a walkthrough movie is a moving image to bedisplayed by reproducing the automatic operation data.

Here, the automatic operation data will be described. As describedabove, the automatic operation data is the operation information whichis previously created. For example, in the development stage of thegame, a game developer or the like actually operates the playercharacter 101 using the controller 7, and then stores the operationinformation transmitted from the controller 7 to the game apparatus 3 ina predetermined memory. The operation information thus obtained to bestored on the optical disc 4 as a portion of game data will be used asthe automatic operation data. Note that the details of the automaticoperation data will be described later.

Furthermore, in FIG. 16, instead of the entirety of the screen as shownin FIG. 12, an area smaller than that of the entirety of the screen isused as the walkthrough movie display area 110. Buttons 111 and 112 forchanging a reproduction speed of the walkthrough movie are alsodisplayed on the screen. In the present embodiment, a reproduction speedcan be changed in eight stages from 1× to 8×. When the player pressesthe button 112, the reproduction speed is increased by one times (onestage) (e.g., the reproduction speed changes from 1×→2×→3× . . . →8×),and when the player presses the button 111, the reproduction speed isdecreased by one times (e.g., the reproduction speed changes from8×→7×→6× . . . →1×).

Furthermore, a “join ongoing game” button 113 is displayed on the screenof FIG. 16. In the game assumed in the present embodiment, by pressingthe “join ongoing game” button 113 while the walkthrough movie isdisplayed, an operation of the player character 101 can be switched froman operation performed by the CPU 10 based on the automatic operationdata to an operation of the player using the controller 7. After theswitching, a state of the player character is shifted from a stateimmediately before the switching is performed. Further, a state of anitem or the like is also shifted from a state immediately before theswitching is performed. That is, while a walkthrough movie is reproducedbased on the automatic operation data, the player can “join an ongoinggame from a mid-game point therefrom”. Furthermore, the player “joins anongoing game from a mid-game point therefrom”, thereby causing the gamescreen to be switched over to the same screen as that to be displayedwhen “play with scenario” is selected, i.e., a screen on which a statewhere the virtual game space existing the player character 101 isdisplayed by using the entirety of the screen, as shown in FIG. 17.Thereafter, the player can play the game until the chapter 2 isfinished, moving the player character 101 in accordance with his or herown operation.

As described above, a scenario of a game is divided into a plurality ofchapters, thereby allowing the player to play the game all the waythrough (until the game is cleared or to the end of the game) even if heor she does not have much time to play the game. Furthermore, bydisplaying the aforementioned walkthrough movie for each of thechapters, it becomes possible to prevent the player from getting stuckin the game. Therefore, even if the player is unfamiliar with the game,he or she can enjoy playing the game all the way through (until the gameis cleared or to the end of the game). Furthermore, a mode of “play withscenario” and a mode of “play with chapter” are individually provided.Thus, if the player wishes to clear the game by himself or herself, themode of “play with scenario” may be selected to play the game, wherebyhe or she never discovers a method of conquering the game in advance andlose interest in the game.

Furthermore, the CPU 10 operates the player character 101 based on theautomatic operation data so as to display a state of the playercharacter controlled based on the automatic operation data as thewalkthrough movie, thereby making it possible to smoothly switch over anoperation of the player character 101 to the operation performed by theplayer from any mid-game point of the walkthrough movie being currentlyreproduced. Thus, while viewing a walkthrough movie, the player canstart to operate the player character 101 by himself or herself from anydesired point thereof. In an example of the walkthrough movie of the“chapter 2” mentioned above, for example, the player is allowed tocontinue to view a walkthrough moving image displayed based on theautomatic operation data until a certain mid-game point in the fightagainst the boss character and then start to operate the playercharacter by himself or herself only when the player character deliversthe final blow. In other words, the player is allowed to cause the CPU10 to operate the player character 101 based on the automatic operationdata for scenes including operations difficult for the player, and thenstart to operate the player character 101 by himself or herself aftersuch scenes are over. As a result, even if the player is unfamiliar withthe game, he or she can enjoy playing the game all the way through tothe end.

Next, the game processing to be executed by the game apparatus 3 will bedescribed in detail. Initially, data stored in the external main memory12 when the game processing is executed will be described. FIG. 18 is adiagram illustrating a memory map of the external main memory 12 of thegame apparatus 3. In FIG. 18, the external main memory 12 includes aprogram storage area 120 and a data storage area 123. Data stored in theprogram storage area 120 and the data storage area 123 is stored on theoptical disc 4. When a game program is executed, the data stored in theabove areas is forwarded to the external main memory 12 and storedtherein.

The program storage area 120 stores the game program to be executed bythe CPU 10, and the game program includes a main processing program 121,a walkthrough movie reproduction program 122 and the like.

The data storage area 123 stores walkthrough movie data 124, object data125 and the like.

The walkthrough movie data 124 is data from which the aforementionedwalkthrough movie is to be created. The walkthrough movie data 124includes Area-1 data 1241 to Area-5 data 1245, each piece of the areadata corresponding to a scenario content of the game assumed in thepresent embodiment. Furthermore, in each piece of the area data, atleast one piece of data (Chapter-1 data 1241 a, Chapter-2 data 1241 b .. . ), having a number equal to the number of chapters constituting eacharea, is stored. Hereinafter, the at least one piece of data isgenerically referred to as “Chapter-m data” (m is a chapter number).

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a content of the Chapter-1 data 1241a, which is an example of the Chapter-m data. In FIG. 19, the Chapter-1data 1241 a includes a plurality of pieces of automatic operation data126 (although the plurality of pieces of automatic operation data 126are shown in FIG. 19 as 126 a, 126 b, 126 c . . . , these pieces of dataare generically referred to as the “automatic operation data 126” in thepresent embodiment). As described above, the automatic operation data126 is previously provided data. Specifically, the automatic operationdata 126 is data which is previously created by storing the operationinformation transmitted from the controller 7 when a game developeractually operates the controller 7 to play the game in the developmentstage of the game, for example. In the present embodiment, the operationinformation is outputted from the controller 7 at a cycle of 5 ms.Similarly, the automatic operation data 126 is also stored at a cycle of5 ms. Specifically, the automatic operation data 126 contains datacorresponding to 5 ms.

Next, a content of the automatic operation data 126 will be described.The automatic operation data 126 includes button data 131, X-axisacceleration data 132, Y-axis acceleration data 133, Z-axis accelerationdata 134, coordinate data 135 and expansion controller data 136.

The button data 131 is data indicating a depression state of each of thebuttons (the plurality of operation buttons) of the operation section 72included in the controller 7. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating anexemplary configuration of the button data 131. The button data 131includes a button type 1311 and a depression state 1312. The button type1311 indicates each of the buttons of the operation section 72. Thedepression state 1312 indicates a depression state (an on/off state) ofeach of the buttons. Specifically, “0” indicates a state where a buttonis not pressed (where a button is turned off), and “1” indicates a statewhere a button is pressed (where a button is turned on). An example ofFIG. 20 shows a state where only the “right” portion of the cross key 72a and the B button 72 i are pressed.

Referring back to FIG. 19, the X-axis acceleration data 132, the Y-axisacceleration data 133 and the Z-axis acceleration data 134 are threepieces of data, detected by the acceleration sensor 701, of an X-axiscomponent, a Y-axis component and a Z-axis component, respectively. Amotion of the controller 7 can be detected by using these pieces ofdata. Thus, these pieces of data are used as the automatic operationdata, thereby making it possible to reproduce even an operation usingacceleration, more specifically, an operation of waving the controller 7as the walkthrough movie.

The coordinate data 135 is data calculated based on the processingresult data outputted from the image information calculation section 74.The coordinate data 135 is data of coordinates indicating positions ofimaging targets (markers 8L and 8R) in a coordinate system forindicating a position on a plane corresponding to a picked-up imagepicked up by the image pickup element 743. The coordinates are varied inaccordance with an orientation (posture) or a position of the controller7, thereby allowing the game apparatus 3 to calculate an orientation ora position of the controller 7 by using the coordinate data.

The expansion controller data 136 is various data outputted from anexpansion controller (e.g., a controller to which a direction can beinputted in analog form) and/or an expansion unit (e.g., the gyro sensorunit 9), which is/are insertable to the controller 7 via the connector73. For example, in the case where the automatic operation data isgenerated in the development stage, data such as data representing theangular rates (yaw, roll and pitch) is stored when the gyro sensor unit9 is inserted to the controller 7. Alternatively, when no component isinserted to the connector 73, no data is stored in the expansioncontroller data 136. Still alternatively, when both an expansioncontroller and an expansion unit are connected to the controller 7,output data of the expansion controller and output data of the expansionunit are alternately outputted. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, in thecase where the gyro sensor unit 9 is inserted to the controller 7 and anexpansion controller is further inserted to the gyro sensor unit 9, dataof the gyro sensor unit 9 and data of the expansion controller arealternately outputted from the controller 7 to the game apparatus 3 on aframe-by-frame basis, for example. As a result, as the content of theexpansion controller data 136, the data of the gyro sensor unit 9 andthe data of the expansion controller are alternately replaced with eachother on a frame-by-frame basis. In this case, the output data of eachof the expansion controller and the gyro sensor unit 9 includesidentification information for distinguishing between the twocomponents.

Referring back to FIG. 18, the object data 125 is data regarding theplayer character 101 or an enemy character appearing in the game.

In addition to the data mentioned above, the data storage area 123stores data necessary to execute the game processing such as dataregarding a virtual game space (topographic data, for example).

Next, with reference to FIG. 22, the game processing to be executed bythe game apparatus 3 will be described. When the game apparatus 3 ispowered on, the CPU 10 of the game apparatus 3 executes a boot programstored in the ROM/RTC 13 so as to initialize each unit such as theexternal main memory 12. The game program stored on the optical disc 4is loaded to the external main memory 12 and the CPU 10 starts toexecute the game program. Note that in a flowchart shown in FIG. 22, thepresent embodiment describes only the game processing relating to awalkthrough movie reproduction process to be executed when the “viewwalkthrough movie” button 107 is pressed from the chapter menu shown inFIG. 15, and the detailed description of other game processing whichdoes not directly pertain to the present invention will be omitted. Aprocessing loop of steps S1 to S13 as shown in FIG. 22 is repeatedlyexecuted on a frame-by-frame basis (every 1/60 sec).

An outline of the walkthrough movie reproduction process shown in FIG.22 will be described. In the walkthrough movie reproduction process, aprocess is executed so as to change the number of pieces of automaticoperation data 126 to be read during a processing loop executed once perframe in accordance with a reproduction speed designated by the player.Then, the CPU 10 operates the player character 101 based on the piecesof automatic operation data 126 having been read, and a process ofrendering a state of the virtual game space, which is obtained as aresult of the above operation is executed. Thereafter, when the “joinongoing game” button 113 is pressed, a control of the player character101 is switched over to an operation inputted by the player (anoperation signal outputted from the controller 7), and the walkthroughmovie reproduction process is to be finished.

In FIG. 22, the CPU 10 firstly executes an initialization process (stepS1). Specifically, the CPU 10 reads data of a stage corresponding toeach chapter designated by the player (topographic data or the like),data of various characters (the enemy character and other non-playercharacters), and item data necessary to reproduce a walkthrough movie(data of weapons with which the player character 101 is armed or data ofitems necessary to release “riddles”, “tricks”, “traps” or the like).Then, the item data having been read is set for the player character101. For example, the player character 101 is set so as to be armed witha specific weapon for defeating the boss character. Thereafter, the CPU10 generates a screen as shown in FIG. 16 and displays the generatedscreen. Furthermore, the CPU 10 specifies the Chapter-m datacorresponding to an area and a chapter designated by the player, therebymaking preparations for reading the specified Chapter-m data.Furthermore, the CPU 10 initializes a variable n. The variable nindicates the number of times a process (to be described later) ofreading the operation data and adopting the read operation data to thegame space is executed. Furthermore, the CPU 10 sets “1” as a variable Swhich indicates a reproduction speed. That is, 1× (a normal speed) isset as a reproduction speed in the initialization process.

Next, the CPU 10 determines whether an instruction to change areproduction speed has been issued or not (step S2). Specifically, theCPU 10 determines whether the button 111 or 112 has been pressed on thescreen shown in FIG. 16 for changing the reproduction speed. As a resultof the determination, when an instruction to change the reproductionspeed has not been issued (NO in step S2), the CPU 10 advances theprocess to step S5 to be described later.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S2, when aninstruction to change a reproduction speed has been issued, the CPU 10determines the reproduction speed based on the instruction having beenissued (step S3). Specifically, when the button 112 is pressed, aprocess of increasing the reproduction speed by one times is executed.On the other hand, when the button 111 is pressed, a process ofdecreasing the reproduction speed by one times is executed. For example,when the button 112 is pressed in a state where “1” is set as thevariable S, “2” is to be set as the variable S (the reproduction speedis increased by one stage). Alternatively, when the button 111 ispressed in a state where “2” is set as the variable S, “1” is to be setas the variable S (the reproduction speed is decreased by one stage).Note that when the button 111 is pressed in a state where “1” is set asthe variable S, the variable S remains unchanged because thereproduction speed is already at the lowest level. Similarly, when thebutton 112 is pressed in a state where “8” is set as the variable S, thevariable S remains unchanged because the reproduction speed is alreadyat the highest level.

Then, the CPU 10 executes a process of setting the variable n inaccordance with the reproduction speed determined in step S3 (step S4).As described above, the automatic operation data 126 is stored as dataacquired at a cycle of 5 ms. On the other hand, the game processing inthe present embodiment is executed at a cycle of 16.7 ms ( 1/60 sec).Therefore, taking a case where a reproduction speed is 1× (a normalspeed) as an example, a value “3” (obtained by rounding off a valuecalculated by 16.7/5 to the nearest integer) is set as the variable n,for example. Specifically, a setting is performed to repeat a process ofreading the automatic operation data 126 corresponding to 1/60 sec threetimes. Alternatively, in the case where the reproduction speed is 2×(variable S=“2”), a value “7” is set as the variable n in order to readdata corresponding to 1/30 sec. In the case where the reproduction speedis 4× (variable S=“4”), a value “13” is set as the variable n, forexample, in order to read data corresponding to 1/15 sec.

Next, the CPU 10 sets “0” as a variable ctr (step S5). The variable ctris a variable indicating the number of times a read process to bedescribed below has been executed.

Then, the CPU 10 reads a piece of automatic operation data 126 from theChapter-m data specified in step S1 (step S6). Note that the automaticoperation data 126 is read by sequential access.

Subsequently, the CPU 10 operates the player character 101 in thevirtual game space based on the piece of automatic operation data 126having been read, and adopts the operation result to the virtual gamespace (step S7). That is, an operation content represented by the pieceof the automatic operation data 126 is reflected in a state of thevirtual game space. For example, when an operation content represents ascene in which the player character 101 attacks a predetermined enemycharacter and its attack hits the enemy character, a process of adding apredetermined damage value to the enemy character is executed togetherwith a movement processing of the player character 101. In other words,except that the CPU 10 operates the player character 101 based on theautomatic operation data 126, a process similar to the normal gameprocessing (a game processing to be executed when “play with scenario”is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 10) is executed.

Next, the CPU 10 adds “1” to the variable ctr (step S8). Then, the CPU10 determines whether or not the variable ctr is equal to the variable n(step S9). Specifically, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the numberof times a process of steps S6 and S7 has been executed is equal to thenumber of times indicated by the variable n. As a result of thedetermination, when the variable ctr is not equal to the variable n (NOin step S9), the game processing returns to step S6 and repeats theprocess.

On the other hand, when the variable ctr is equal to the variable n (YESin step S9), the CPU 10 subsequently determines whether or not a timeperiod corresponding to one frame has elapsed since a rendering wasperformed in an immediately preceding frame (step S10). As a result ofthe determination, when a time period corresponding to one frame has notyet elapsed (NO in step S10), a process of waiting until a time periodcorresponding to one frame has elapsed is executed. For example, when ittakes only a time period corresponding to 0.2 frames to complete arepetition of the read process of the operation data and the like, aprocess of waiting until a remaining time period corresponding to 0.8frames has elapsed is executed.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S10, when atime period corresponding to one frame has elapsed (YES in step S10),the CPU 10 executes a rendering process (step S11). Specifically, aprocess of displaying, on the television 2, an image obtained by pickingup the virtual game space by a virtual camera as a game image, isexecuted.

Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not an instruction to join anongoing game has been issued (step S12). Specifically, the CPU 10determines whether the “join ongoing game” button 113 has been pressedon the screen shown in FIG. 16. As a result of the determination, whenthe “join ongoing game” button has been pressed (YES in step S12), theCPU 10 executes a process of shifting to the normal game processing(step S13). Specifically, an input source of information for controllingan operation of the player character 101 is switched from the automaticoperation data 126 to the operation information transmitted from thecontroller 7. That is, an operation of the player character 101 isswitched over to an operation controlled by the player. Furthermore, ascreen display is also switched over to a game screen on which thevirtual game space is displayed by using an entirety of a display areaof the screen, as shown from the screen shown in FIG. 16 to the screenshown in FIG. 17. Then, the CPU 10 finishes the walkthrough moviereproduction process. Thus, the game processing in which the playercharacter 101 is controlled thereafter based on an operation of theplayer (i.e., the game processing to be executed when “play withscenario” is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 10) is executed.

As a result of the determination in step S12, when an instruction tojoin an ongoing game has not been issued (NO in step S12), the CPU 10determines whether or not a finish condition of the walkthrough moviereproduction process is satisfied (step S14). Such a finish conditionincludes “the walkthrough movie is reproduced all the way through to theend” or “an instruction to finish reproducing the walkthrough movie hasbeen issued from the player”, for example. As a result of thedetermination, when the finish condition is satisfied (YES in step S14),the walkthrough movie reproduction process is to be finished. On theother hand, when the finish condition is not satisfied (NO is step S14),the game processing returns to step S2 and repeats the process. As such,the walkthrough movie reproduction process is finished.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the CPU 10 controls theplayer character 101 by using the automatic operation data 126, and astate of the virtual game space in which the player character 101 iscontrolled based on the automatic operation data 126 is displayed as awalkthrough movie. Thus, it becomes possible to prevent the player fromgetting stuck in the game. Even if the player is unfamiliar with thegame, he or she can enjoy playing the game all the way through (untilthe game is cleared or to the end of the game). Furthermore, walkthroughinformation is shown as a “demonstration” performed by the CPU 10 whichoperates the player character. Therefore, it becomes possible to moreclearly show the player how to move (operate) the player character.

Furthermore, by pressing the “join ongoing game” button 113 while thewalkthrough movie is displayed, a control of the player character 101 isswitched over to an operation controlled by the player. Therefore, whileviewing a walkthrough movie, the player can start to operate the playercharacter 101 by himself or herself from any desired point thereof. As aresult, the player can enjoy playing the game by choosing to reproducethe walkthrough movie for scenes that require difficult operations suchas an operation using the acceleration data or the angular rate data,and starting to operate the player character by himself or herself aftersuch scenes are over. That is, the automatic operation data can be usedfor only portions which require operations difficult for the player.Therefore, even if a player is not very good at the game, it becomespossible to allow the player to enjoy the game all the way through tothe end without giving up partway through, while providing him or herwith the satisfaction of moderately operating the player character 101by himself or herself.

Furthermore, the “join ongoing game” button 113 is provided, therebyallowing the player to join an ongoing game by interrupting thewalkthrough movie. Thus, it also becomes possible to provide the playerwith a playstyle called a “‘what if’ experience”. For example, it isassumed that the walkthrough movie has a scene in which there is a forkin a road leading left and right and the player character takes theright branch. In this case, the player can also enjoy the game byjoining the ongoing game from the above scene and taking the leftbranch.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, instead of reproducing a generalmoving image file (in an MPEG format), the aforementioned automaticoperation data, more specifically, data generated by storing theoperation information outputted from the controller 7 (i.e., data in thesame form as that of the operation information) is used as thewalkthrough movie. Therefore, while the walkthrough movie is reproduced,the player can start at any time a gameplay controlled by an operationof the player himself or herself from any desired point thereof. Forexample, in the case where the walkthrough movie is reproduced by usinga general moving image file, even if the player joins an ongoing game bypressing the “join ongoing game” button 113, a scene at which the playerstarts to play the game may not completely synchronize with a scenebeing currently reproduced. Depending on a timing, acurrently-reproduced scene may be returned to a scene slightly precedingthe scene at which the “join ongoing game” button is pressed. In theabove embodiment, however, the walkthrough movie is reproduced by usingthe automatic operation data 126, thereby making it possible to start agameplay controlled by an operation of the player from a scene continuedfrom the scene at which the “join ongoing game” button 113 is pressed.That is, it becomes possible to more smoothly shift to a gameplaycontrolled by an operation of the player, while the walkthrough movie isreproduced.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a reproduction speed of thewalkthrough movie is changed, thereby making it possible to allow theplayer to quickly view only portions he or she wishes to watch, skippingportions which have already been viewed once.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a scenario of a game is dividedinto a plurality of chapters. Therefore, the player can start to playthe game from any desired point thereof. Thus, even if a player does nothave much time to play the game and cannot spare a minute to challenge ascene which requires difficult operations over and over again, thepresent invention allows the player to select any chapter he or shelikes and to choose whether to display the walkthrough movie or to jointhe ongoing game, whereby it becomes possible for the player to enjoythe game all the way through to the end without giving up partwaythrough, while providing him or her with the satisfaction of moderatelyoperating the player character 101 by himself or herself.

Although the above present embodiment illustrates an example where areproduction speed of the walkthrough movie can be changed in eightstages from 1× to 8×, a slow reproduction may be additionally provided.For example, the reproduction speed may be changed in eight stages from1× to ⅛×. In this case, when the reproduction speed is changed to ½×,for example, a value “1” (obtained by rounding off to the nearestinteger) may be set as the variable n so as to read data correspondingto 1/120 sec. Alternatively, when the reproduction speed is ¼×, theautomatic operation data 126 maybe acquired once every two frames (i.e.,each time a processing loop is executed twice). As described above, byperforming a slow reproduction, it becomes possible to allow the playerto deliberately observe a content of operations on how to conquer thegame.

Furthermore, it is understood that a range within which the reproductionspeed can be changed is not limited to 8× or ⅛.

Furthermore, a content of the walkthrough movie (automatic operationdata) is not limited to providing instructions on how to defeat the bosscharacter mentioned above. The content of the walkthrough movie may beinstructions on how to solve “riddles” with which the player is likelyto get stuck in the game processing. Or, the content of the walkthroughmovie may be procedures or methods on how to clear a so-called “minigame” (e.g., a shooting game or a puzzle game which is providedthroughout the game because the present embodiment assumes that anaction adventure game is played). That is, a game developer may pick upa scene where he or she believes that the player is likely to get stuckin the game processing, and a content showing how the game developeractually operates to clear the scene may be stored as the automaticoperation data 126.

Although the above present embodiment illustrates an example where theautomatic operation data 126 is stored at a cycle of 5 ms, the automaticoperation data 126 may be stored at a cycle of a shorter time period(1ms, for example). Thus, when the slow reproduction is performed, itbecomes possible to allow the player to view a more minute movement(operation) of the player character 101. Alternatively, in line with agame processing unit, the automatic operation data 126 may be stored ata cycle of 16.7 ms ( 1/60 sec). In the case where the automaticoperation data 126 is stored in line with a game processing unit, whenthe walkthrough movie is reproduced at a speed of 1×, a piece ofautomatic operation data 126 may be read each time the aforementionedprocessing loop is executed. When the walkthrough movie is reproduced ata speed of 2×, two pieces of automatic operation data 126 may be readeach time the aforementioned processing loop is executed.

Although the above present embodiment illustrates an example where theautomatic operation data 126 is created by storing an operation signaloutputted from an operation actually performed by a game developer usingthe controller 7, the present invention is not limited thereto. Theautomatic operation data 126 may be directly created and edited. Thatis, data included in the automatic operation data 126 may be created bya manual input.

Furthermore, the automatic operation data may be downloaded from apredetermined server. For example, the game apparatus 3 may be connectedto a predetermined server via the wireless communication module 18 so asto download the automatic operation data stored on the server, and thedownloaded automatic operation data may be stored in the flash memory17. In this case, the automatic operation data may include informationfor identifying a specific game and a specific scene included therein.When the game apparatus 3 executes a game processing of a correspondinggame, the automatic operation data may be acquired from the flash memory17 so as to execute a process of reproducing the walkthrough movie.Thus, the walkthrough movie can be distributed at a later time after thegame appeared on the market. For example, when it is discovered afterthe game appeared on the market that a great number of players are stuckwith a certain scene, which the developer believed was not difficult,the automatic operation data representing a method of conquering thescene is created and stored on the server. Then, a player is prompted todownload the automatic operation data 126. With newly downloadedautomatic operation data 126, even the players who have been stuck inthe game can smoothly proceed with the game and thus it becomes possibleto allow them to play the game all the way through until the game iscleared.

Although the above embodiment illustrates an example where thewalkthrough movie is provided in the form of chapter menu, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. The player may reproduce thewalkthrough movie at any desired time point, i.e., the player may chooseto switch over an operation of the player character 101 to an operationcontrolled based on the automatic operation data 126 at any desired timepoint while playing the game. For example, the game developer previouslyplays the game all the way through from the beginning to the end (untilthe game is cleared, e.g., until an end screen is displayed), so as tostore operation data obtained by the operation of the game developer.The operation data thus obtained is divided into a plurality of piecesof data in accordance with a state of a game progression so as to bestored as the automatic operation data 126 together with identificationdata representing each scene. In the case where the player selects “playwith scenario” on the screen of FIG. 10 to start the game, in responseto a predetermined operation (an operation of issuing an instruction toswitch over to an automatic operation) performed by the player, theautomatic operation data 126 corresponding to a scene in the game at atime point when the predetermined operation is performed may be read, soas to cause the CPU 10 to control an operation of the player character101 based on the automatic operation data 126 having been read. In thiscase, when the player performs the predetermined operation, for example,the CPU 10 determines whether or not a condition required for clearingthe scene is satisfied (e.g., whether the player character 101 acquiresan item required for clearing the scene), and when the requiredcondition is not satisfied, a necessary item, for example, is displayedas a tip to conquer the scene. On the other hand, when the requiredcondition is satisfied, the automatic operation data may be read so asto switch over to a control performed based on the automatic operationdata. Furthermore, in this case, a position (in the virtual game space)at which the control, performed based on the automatic operation data,is started may be designated. For example, when a switch button ispressed, an object indicating a position at which the control, performedby the automatic operation, is started (e.g., a marker or a messageindicating that the player character 101 should move to the front of thedoor of a room where the boss character is located) is displayed on thescreen, and the player operates the controller 7 so as to move theplayer character 101 to the position at which the control performedbased on the automatic operation data is started. After the playercharacter 101 is moved to the position at which the control performedbased on the automatic operation data is started, the control of theplayer character 101 may be switched over to the control performed basedon the automatic operation data 126. Thereafter, similarly to theembodiment mentioned above, an operation control of the player character101 may be switched back to an operation of the controller 7 controlledby the player in response to an input of a predetermined operationperformed by the player (i.e., an operation of pressing the “joinongoing game” button). Therefore, while playing the game, the player canproceed with the game by controlling the player character 101 based onthe automatic operation data for scenes which require an extremelydifficult operation such as a scene which he or she cannot clear evenafter several challenges. Thus, it becomes possible to prevent theplayer from getting stuck in the game and giving up clearing the gamepartway through, and thus the player can be kept motivated to play thegame all the way through to the end.

Furthermore, the player may create the automatic operation data. Whenthe player selects “play with scenario” shown in FIG. 10 to play thegame, for example, a process may be executed so as to store theoperation information transmitted from the controller 7 in a memory inresponse to an operation of “issuing an instruction to store data”performed by the player. Then, the operation information thus obtainedmay be stored in the flash memory 17 or a predetermined external storagemedium (e.g., a memory card) as “player-created operation data”. Thus,the “player-created operation data” can be distributed among a pluralityof players. As a result, it becomes possible to provide the player witha playstyle in which he or she can show other players his or her ownmethod of conquering the game. Furthermore, in the case where a game isexecuted by a stationary game apparatus, it also becomes possible toallow the player to acquire, for a scene which he or she cannot conquer,the automatic operation data 126 of the scene from a friend who hasalready conquered the scene, and to cause a stationary game apparatus ofthe player to reproduce the automatic operation data 126 having beenacquired from the friend, thereby leaning a method of conquering thescene. Then, it also becomes possible to allow the player to switch overthe control of the player character 101 to an operation performed by theplayer at any midpoint of the reproduction of the method of conqueringthe scene which has been acquired from the friend. As compared with theaforementioned case where the automatic operation data 126 is downloadedfrom a server, it is advantageous for the player not to have to waituntil the automatic operation data 126 is uploaded to the server.Furthermore, by distributing walkthrough information in the form of“walkthrough movie” among the players, it becomes possible to facilitatecommunication among the players and thus another pleasure can be alsoprovided with the players.

While the invention has been described in detail, the foregoingdescription is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It isunderstood that numerous other modifications and variations can bedevised without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A game apparatus that executes game processing inwhich a player character is moved based on operation data outputted froman input device of a player in response to an operation inputted to theinput device, the game apparatus comprising: an operation data storageunit configured to store a series of operation data, as automaticoperation data, for continuously moving the player character without anoperation being inputted to the input device of the player; a game startunit configured to start the game processing; an automatic controlreception unit configured to receive, during the game processing startedby the game start unit, an automatic control start operation indicatingstart of automatic control of the player character; an automatic controlunit configured, when the automatic control start operation has beenreceived, to read the automatic operation data from the operation datastorage unit and to move the player character based on the automaticoperation data, instead of moving the player character based on theoperation data outputted from the input device; a play resumptionreception unit configured, while the player character is being moved bythe automatic control unit, to receive a play resumption operationindicating resumption of play by the player; and a game processingresumption unit configured, when the play resumption operation has beenreceived, to resume game processing for moving the player characterbased on the operation data outputted from the input device, instead ofmoving the player character based on the automatic operation data. 2.The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the game processingresumption unit ends, at a timing when the play resumption operation wasreceived, movement of the player character based on the automaticoperation data caused by the automatic control unit, and moves theplayer character after the timing, based on the operation data outputtedfrom the input device, starting from a state of the player character atthe timing.
 3. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium havingstored therein a program to be executed by a computer of a gameapparatus that executes game processing in which a player character ismoved based on operation data outputted from an input device of a playerin response to an operation inputted to the input device, the programcausing the computer to function as: an operation data storage unitconfigured to store a series of operation data, as automatic operationdata, for continuously moving the player character without an operationbeing inputted to the input device of the player; a game start unitconfigured to start the game processing; an automatic control receptionunit configured to receive, during the game processing started by thegame start unit, an automatic control start operation indicating startof automatic control of the player character; an automatic control unitconfigured, when the automatic control start operation has beenreceived, to read the automatic operation data from the operation datastorage unit and to move the player character based on the automaticoperation data, instead of moving the player character based on theoperation data outputted from the input device; a play resumptionreception unit configured, while the player character is being moved bythe automatic control unit, to receive a play resumption operationindicating resumption of play by the player; and a game processingresumption unit configured, when the play resumption operation has beenreceived, to resume game processing for moving the player characterbased on the operation data outputted from the input device, instead ofmoving the player character based on the automatic operation data.
 4. Agame system that executes game processing in which a player character ismoved based on operation data outputted from an input device of a playerin response to an operation inputted to the input device, the gamesystem comprising: an operation data storage unit configured to store aseries of operation data, as automatic operation data, for continuouslymoving the player character without an operation being inputted to theinput device of the player; a game start unit configured to start thegame processing; an automatic control reception unit configured toreceive, during the game processing started by the game start unit, anautomatic control start operation indicating start of automatic controlof the player character; an automatic control unit configured, when theautomatic control start operation has been received, to read theautomatic operation data from the operation data storage unit and tomove the player character based on the automatic operation data, insteadof moving the player character based on the operation data outputtedfrom the input device; a play resumption reception unit configured,while the player character is being moved by the automatic control unit,to receive a play resumption operation indicating resumption of play bythe player; and a game processing resumption unit configured, when theplay resumption operation has been received, to resume game processingfor moving the player character based on the operation data outputtedfrom the input device, instead of moving the player character based onthe automatic operation data.
 5. A game processing method forcontrolling a game apparatus that executes game processing in which aplayer character is moved based on operation data outputted from aninput device of a player in response to an operation inputted to theinput device, the game processing method comprising: storing in apredetermined storage unit a series of operation data, as automaticoperation data, for continuously moving the player character without anoperation being inputted to the input device of the player; starting thegame processing; receiving, during the started game processing, anautomatic control start operation indicating start of automatic controlof the player character; when the automatic control start operation hasbeen received, reading the automatic operation data from thepredetermined storage unit and of moving the player character based onthe automatic operation data, instead of moving the player characterbased on the operation data outputted from the input device; receiving,while the player character is being moved, a play resumption operationindicating resumption of play by the player; and resuming, when the playresumption operation has been received, game processing for moving theplayer character based on the operation data outputted from the inputdevice, instead of moving the player character based on the automaticoperation data.